Italian woman killed by pizza: Diner, 46, went into convulsions after eating a restaurant dish with “spoiled chilli sauce”, which also made her husband seriously ill

An Italian woman died of convulsions after eating a pizza allegedly containing contaminated chili sauce at a restaurant.

The couple had dinner in the town of Ariano Irpino in southern Italy on Saturday night and returned home without incident.

But they fell ill the next morning and continued to feel unwell until yesterday when they were taken to hospital for cramps.

Gerardina Corsano (46) died as a result of possible food poisoning caused by botulinum – a bacteria that produces dangerous toxins that may have been found in the chili pepper used in her pizza at the restaurant, reports Corriere della Sera.

Her husband, 52-year-old agricultural entrepreneur Angelo Meninno, was hospitalized and is in a serious condition after using the same sauce on his pizza, the Italian daily reported. Doctors say he can survive.

Gerardina Corsano (46) and her husband Angelo Meninno

The Benevento public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the woman’s death and will conduct an autopsy in the coming days.

The police conducting the investigation also seized the chilli spice, which is being subjected to analysis and some witnesses are also being interviewed.

The restaurant in Ariano Irpino where the couple ate was apparently confiscated by the Benevento prosecutor’s office at the request of Marilia Capitanio.

The products checked by the criminal police were used without any problems by several other customers and also by the owner’s family, said Guerino Gazzella, lawyer of the pizzeria owner, according to the publication.

The lawyer also pointed out that his client “immediately made himself available to cooperate” with the investigators.